If you're worried that your past mistakes might be found online, you're not alone. Anyone can access public records of court cases, including websites like UniCourt, Leagle, and Justia.
These sites collect information about legal proceedings and make it available to anyone with an internet connection. While it's important to have some transparency in our society, public court records can come with risks. People searching your name online might see information you'd rather keep private. This could lead to missed opportunities in the future.
If you want to remove court records from the internet, you're in the right place. This article will explain step-by-step instructions on how to do it so you can protect your privacy.
What are Public Court Records?
Public court records contain information about court cases that anyone can access. These records may include details about civil, criminal, family court, probate, tax, landlord-tenant, small claims, and traffic cases. Each record usually shows the case number, the people involved, the charges, and the court's decision.
Common Public Court Records Include:
- Civil Cases: Disputes between individuals or entities that are not criminal.
- Criminal Cases: Offenses against the state that may result in penalties such as fines or imprisonment.
- Family Court Cases: Divorce, child custody, and spousal support.
- Probate Cases: Legal proceedings involving distributing a deceased person's estate.
- Tax Cases: Disputes related to tax payments and liabilities.
- Landlord-Tenant Cases: Legal matters between landlords and tenants.
- Small Claims Cases: A specialized court often hears civil cases with lower monetary limits.
- Traffic Cases: Infractions related to traffic violations.
The Risk of Public Court Cases
Public court records are important for transparency but can also cause problems. People with court cases that are publicly accessible might face issues in their personal and professional lives. Anyone, including potential employers, clients, or acquaintances, can easily access this information and form opinions that could lead to discrimination or stigma.
How Did My Court Records Get on Search Engines?
While court records are generally considered public information, you have more control over your online presence than you might think. Here's a breakdown of how your records ended up on search engines and how to remove them (for free!) without resorting to expensive legal services.
Public Records Databases
Government agencies are legally obligated to ensure that records are accessible to the public. These records often include court filings, arrest reports, and even mugshots. They can be found online for free and are frequently indexed by search engines.
People Search Websites
Some websites gather publicly available data and other online information to create comprehensive profiles of individuals. These profiles can contain details such as your court history and other personal information. If you're curious about an old classmate, these sites may provide a way to learn more about them.
Crime Blogs (Mugshot Websites)
Websites that publish mugshots usually extract them from different sources, and in most cases, they tend to sensationalize the content for page views. The downside of these sites is that outdated records are rarely updated or removed. This can be quite disconcerting for individuals whose charges have been dropped or expunged, as their records might still be accessible to the public. It is important to be aware of the potential consequences of this type of online content.
How do you remove public court records from the Internet?
Consult with Your County Clerk, First
If you want to remove public records from the county clerk's office, the first method involves a trip to their office. However, it's important to note that removal requests can only be made under certain conditions. While it may seem daunting, a simple phone call or request may surprise you with its effectiveness.
It's important to keep in mind that removing certain information from the county clerk's office may be difficult. The clerk may only be able to remove records with a court order. However, the county clerk's office is still the best place to start when looking to remove records.
Opt-Out of Data Broker Sites
Data broker websites gather and sell personal information, including court records. To protect your privacy, knowing which data broker sites are most prominent and how to remove your court records from them is important. These sites typically offer opt-out options for individuals to request the removal of their information. Following their opt-out procedures can effectively remove your court records from these data broker sites.
File for Public Records Expungement
If you have a criminal record, you may be able to have it expunged depending on the laws in your jurisdiction and the nature of your case. Expungement is a legal process that removes certain records from public access. If you want to file an expungement of your public records, it's recommended that you talk to a lawyer to find out if it's possible and what steps you need to take.
Hire an Online Management Reputation Firm
If you're facing trouble getting a not guilty verdict, dismissal, or court order, you can consider hiring an online reputation management company to remove or hide court records from the internet. They have various strategies, such as DMCA notices, violation of website terms of service, and other practices that can help expedite the process. If you have difficulty achieving your desired outcome in court, this could be a viable solution.
This involves working with the website owner and Google to prevent the court records from appearing in search results when someone Googles your name.
Online reputation management companies specialize in managing search results related to your brand to ensure they are positive. Focusing on specific keywords, removing irrelevant or harmful content, and using other SEO methods increase traffic and clicks and rank the pages that matter most, ensuring that anyone researching you online sees positive and accurate search results.
With consistent online posting and enough content, you can gradually bury search results on Google with positive results over time.
NewReputation is a renowned online reputation management firm committed to helping individuals and businesses take control of their online reputation. With a team of experts in online privacy, data removal, and reputation management, NewReputation offers personalized solutions to remove court cases from public records and minimize their impact on your personal and professional life.
Conclusion
If you're a small business or a single person online, the search results on Google can either help or harm your reputation. Unfortunately, court records are often the first search result, severely damaging your business or personal brand.
To avoid this, it's important to understand the risks associated with public court cases. You can take proactive measures to limit access to your court records by following the steps outlined in this guide.
If you need help managing your online reputation, consider contacting NewReputation for expert assistance. We can help you regain control over your online narrative and improve your online reputation.
